Open Horizons launches first Open Call to fund women led deep tech start ups

Open Horizons has opened its first Open Call, offering equity‑free funding and strategic corporate partnerships to women‑led start‑ups operating in the deep tech and digital innovation sectors.

Early‑stage start‑ups may apply for up to € 55,000 in equity‑free support, tailored mentoring, and the chance to co‑design and test paid pilot projects with major European corporate partners. Application deadline is on 21 August 2025

Benefits for selected start‑ups include:

·       Up to € 55,000 in non‑dilutive funding.

·       One‑on‑one mentoring and strategic matchmaking.

·       Opportunities for real‑world pilots with corporate partners such as Microsoft, Siemens, Holcim, Repsol, EY, PPC, and Stahl.

Eligibility requirements:

·       Registered in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe‑associated country.

·       Operating in digital innovation or deep‑tech domains (e.g. AI, Green Tech, Blockchain, Advanced Materials).

·       At least one woman in a key executive role (CEO, CTO or Founder) holding minimum 25% ownership.

This first Open Call is part of the wider € 1.2 million Open Horizons initiative, which will run through 2027 with three rounds of funding, aiming to address the gender funding gap and enhance innovation across Europe.

About Open Horizons

Open Horizons is a European Commission‑backed initiative coordinated by PEDAL Consulting (Slovakia), in partnership with SPLORO (Spain), InnovX (Romania), and Migros Ticaret (Türkiye). The initiative focuses on empowering women entrepreneurs in digital and deep‑tech innovation, bridging the gap between early‑stage ventures and market‑ready developments.

More information and how to apply can be found here.

 Source:

Open Horizons Project